Apparatus for bleaching almonds



aw. PIERCE. APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING ALMONDS.

APPLIBATION FILED AUG.24, 1920. 1,382,850. Pateniefi me 28 m1 6 SHEEIS-SHEET I V I T/WESS .Z m I N VEN TOR ML ,4 TTORNEYS G. W. PIERCE.

APPARATUSFOR BLEACHING ALMONDS.

I APPLICAHON FILED AUG-24; 1920- lfififi fifim Patented June 28, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS 1 A s-:7. INVENTOR & ATTORNEYS G. W. PIERCE. APPARATUS FOR BL EACHING ALMONDS.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG-24, 1920. 1,382,850, Patented June 28, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4 a z 5 A 3 z w e 8 3 7 6. 5,; o a 7 "1 K A :6 P, I 2 f 2 W 11v VENTOR ATTORNEYS I I l 5'9 WITNESS G. W. PIERCE.

APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING ALMONDS.

I 7 APPLICATION FILED AUG-24. 1920.

1,382,350. mm June 28, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESS IN VEN TOR 4 ATTORNEYS G. W. PIERCE. APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING ALMONDS.

I APPLICATION FILED AUG.24, I920- 1,382,850, Patented June 28, 1921 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6."

WITNESS INVENTOR "K4; A TTORNEYS UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. rInn-ononnAvis, CALIFORNI AssIGNoR T CALIFORNIA ALMOND snownns EXCHANGE, on SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A oonronATIoNor CALIFORNIA.

T0 aZZ i071 0m it may concern y Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davis, in the county of Yolo and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Bleaching Almonds, of which the following is a specification.

The hereinafter described invention relates to an apparatus for the bleaching or blanching of almonds, preparatory to the marketing thereof, and the same comprises inter-connected associated automatically operated instrumentalities for receivingthe almonds, steaming or moistening of the same, delivering the moistened almonds to rotary means for the agitation thereof while being subjected to the action of the fumes of sulfur, and finally discharging the'bleached almonds. The general objects of the inventionare to provide automatically operated means for eiiiciently handling or treating a number of tons of almonds per hour; to ma terially increase the daily output of the bleaching plant, to reduce the cost of treating the almonds and to dispose of the manual handling of the almonds during the processing thereof. lVith these and other objects which will readily present themselves to those conversant with the art of bleaching or blanching of almonds, the invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, disclosing a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for the carrying out of the invention and wherein- "Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of the apparatus partly broken away.disclosing the moistening means for the almonds to be treated, the rotary agitator which receives the moistened almonds, and the mechanism for controlling the feed of the almonds from the moistening means into the rotary agitator.

Fig. 2 is an end elevaticm of the apparatus viewed from the drive end thereof.

admission and discharge of almonds relative to said agitator, and the means for con- .APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING ALMQNDS.

Specification of Letters latent'. Patented J 1 119 28 1921,

Application filed August 24, 1920. Serial No. 405,703.

livery into the rotary agitator.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional end elevation taken on line 7-7Fig. l of the drawings and viewed in the direction of the arrows, disclosing the hopper for receiving the treated almonds and such of the untreated almonds as flow over the rotary agitator after the gate thereof has passed beyond the discharge outlet of the main feed hopper and prior to the closing of its outlet gate.

In the present case, the rotary agitator is illustrated and will be described as adapted to receive and treat a batch of almonds, being to such extent an intermittently operating apparatus. This, however, is an immaterial feature, inasmuch as the said rotary agitator may be an open ended one, receiving the almonds to be treated at one end and discharging the same therefrom as treated almonds from the opposite open end. In-

asmuch as the invention resides in automatically operated means for receiving and treating the almonds to'the action of the fumes of sulfur, while maintained in a condition of agitation, I do not wish to limit or restrict the apparatus invention to any particular constructed form of rotating agitator.

In the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 7, the numeral 1 is used to designate the main frame of the apparatus, which in the present case constitutes a closed bin, approximately sixteen feet in length. Vithin the said bin is located an upper almond receiving hopper 2 for the almonds to be treated, and a lower hopper 3 for receiving the treated almonds and such of the untreated ones as discharges from the main hopper 2 after the closure of the gate of a rotating agitator for receiving the almonds to be treated. The main hopper 2 is supported in any suitable manner and is separated from or situated a distance above the lower hopper 3. Between or intermediate of these hoppers is located or positioned a longitudinally disposed rotary agiover a belt tator 4, composed of longitudinal spaced bars or members 5 united at their ends by the circular end plates 6, which 'platesserve 1n the present case to close the ends of the agi tator. As noted by reference to Figsk l and 6 of the drawings, the rotary agitator isan open or mesh cylinder, somewhat similar to an ordinary grizzly, the openings thereof being of such size as to prevent the escape of almonds of proper size therethrough. The s; id cylindrical agitator is aprorimately siX teen feet in length and six feetin diameter, the same being mounted on a longitudinal oisposed shaft 7, the ends of which work in suitable bearings and project beyond the end walls of the bin 1, the interior of which bin and within which the said agitator revolves constituting the sulfuring chamber 8 of the apparatus.

Rotation is imparted to the shaft 7, by means of a longitudinally disposed driven shaft 9, which shaft is located outside of the bin 1 and carries at each end a small sprocket gear 10. These gears are connected to the larger sprocket gears 11 secured to each end of the shaft 7 by means of the sprocket chains 12, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. The shaft 9 is driven from the drive shaft 13 through the medium of suitable interwithin the cylinder; The moistened almonds discharging from the lower end of the said cylinder (which has rotation imparted thereto by any suitably connected foim of drive means), are delivered within a vertically disposed chute 18 and onto an endless bucket elevator 19 working therein and by means of which the preliminarily treated almonds are elevated and discharged within the parallel feed troughs 20, arranged a distance above the main receiving hopper 2, Figs, 1, 2 audit of the drawings. Within each of the feed troughs 20 is located a worm convever, not

shown, driven by a drive belt (not shown),

working over abelt pulley 21 secured to one end of each worm shaft. These worms propel the almonds along the feed troughs until the same reach the discharge outlets out therein, from which are downwardly eX- tended the distributing chutes 21, there'being two of said chutes for each trough. These chutes discharge directly into and dist ibute tie almonds even throughout the length of the receiving hopper 2, which in length is coextensive with that of the revolving agitat-or. By thus distributing the almonds substantially evenly throughout the length of the hopper 2, the banking or overcrowding of the same at any given point isavoided.

The rotary agitator 4 is provided with a pivotally mounted swinging gate 22, Figs. 4

i ftting within. the pin sockets or recesses 25 for med in each end of the gate 22. g V

The lock pins 24- are moved into and out of engagenient with the swinging gate 22 during the rotary movement of the agitator 4:, by means of two pivotally mounted wedge or cam plates 26, which at times during the rotary movement of the'agitator are thrown inwardly to lie within the path oftravel of and to engage simultaneously cross pins 26 projecting from the heads of the lock pins 24. The said wedges or cams 26 are disclosed in o 36H osition b full lines and in closed position by dotted lines by Fig. 5 of the drawings,'they being pivoted at their lower end to the frame of the apparatus. These wedges or cams are actuated by the bellcranks, 2?, which in turn are operated by means of the crank lever 28. The free inner end of said levers (there being one at each end of the machine) carry a cam follower roll, which works within a cam groove 29 cut in the face of each cam 29', Fig. 2 of the drawings.

ilnly one cam 29 and crank lever 28, are dis closed. but it will be understood that corresponding parts are situated at each end of the apparatus, but being duplicates, as 'well as the means for actuating the cam disk 29', the illustration and description of one will sui'iice for the other. Each cam disk 29 is driven from a gear 30, which meshes with a gear pinion 31, on the shaft for the cam 29, and a gear 32, which latter gear is driven from the shaft 9 by means of a sprocket chain 32 working over a sprocket wheel on said siaft and a sprocket wheel mounted on the shaft for the gear 32. The gear relation of the connected driven gears for imparting rotary motion to the cam disks 29 is such in the presentjcase, that the said cams make one complete rotation to every eighteen revolutions of the rotary agitator, so that on the ighteenth revoluti n of the said agitator the follower roll carried by the crank levers 28 move or ride on that portion of the cam groove of the cams 29 as act to throw the same for operating the hell-crank 27 to throw the wedges 26 inwardly, so as to lie within the path of travel of the cross pins 26 of the lock pins. llith the wedges 26 thus positioned, disclosed by dotted linesl*ig. of the drawings, as the rotation of the agitator continues, the cross pins 26 ride over the inclined surface 01'? the wedges and gradually withdraw the lock pins 26 passing between said wedges from locked engagement with the gate 22 of the agitator, when the same swings by gravity into a vertical position to open the agitater and permit the escape of the sulfuret' almonds therefrom, which flow downwardly into the receiving hopper 3 situated in the lower port-ion of the bin 1 and below the revolving agitator.

The central discharge outlet or open bottom of the main receiving hopper 2 is provided with a closure gate 38, carried by the swinging brackets or arms 33, the trunnions 33 of each arm working in bearings 3-lof the frame structure. Figs. 4L and 5 of the drawings. To the lower end of each swinging arm or bracket 33 is fulcrumed for vertical movement a transversely disposed lever 34-, the notched tail extension M 01 which is normally in locked engagement with a longitudinally disposed lock bar 35, being held in such position by the overweight of that portion of the lever in advance of its fulcrum point.

The lever 84: is thrown from locked position to release the gate 33, by means of the arcuated levers 36, one being pivoted to the inner wall surface of each of the end plates 6 of the rotary agitator, the free end or" said levers 36 overlying the face of the swinging gate 22 for said agitator, Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings. Each lever 36, only one of which is illustrated, is provided with a projecting transversely disposed pin 36 for engagement with the shoulder 37 ot the fulcrumed. lever 34 during the rotary movement of the agitator, when its gate 22 stands in. open position. On the release of the gate the same as swung into open position engages with the inner face of the levers and swings the same outwardly. so as to place the pins 36 of the levers 36 in position to engage with the shoulder 37 of the levers 34'. As thus positioned, as the movement of the agitator carries the levers 36 into the position disclosed by Fig. 6 of the drawings, the pins 36' thereoi first engage with or hear against the shoulder 37 of the levers 34: and as the agitator continues its movement of rotation, the pressure exerted onto the levers 34! is such as to first swing upwardly the inner end thereof and lowering the tail er;- tension 34 to release the same from engagement with the lock bar 35 and thus free the swinging gate 33 of the hopper 2. With the pins 36 of the pivoted levers 36 still in engagement with the shoulder 87 of the levers 3i and the agitator continuing its movement oi rotation, the pressure exerted there on forces over the levers 34 to swing the arms 33, which carrying therewith the gate 33 moves the same to gradually open the discharge outlet of the hopper 2 and permit the charge of almonds contained therein to discharge into the rotary agitator through its open gateway 37, which at such time is moving beneath the discharge outlet of the hopper 2. The discharge oi: the almonds into the agitator continues until the gate 33 is swung over its full distance, during which movement the upper notched end 38 of a pivoted bell crank 38 is-gradually raised by the engagement of the moving levers 34k, to position the notched cut 38 of the bell crank 38 for en 'ageniient with the edge of the swinging a1 2-33 and thus hold the gate 33 in locked open position,v disclosed by dotted lines-l inz at of the drawings. The swinging gate remains held in its open locked position until the arcuate levers 36 are advanced to engage with the lower arm 88 ot the hell cranks 38, and release the pin 86 thereof from engagement with the shoulder 37 ot the levers 5'7,- which arms 38 are -i."adually raised by the pressure of the outwardly swung levers 36 thereagainst, in order to throw downwardly the upper arm of said bell cranks to release the gate 33, when "the same swings by gravity to normal position, carrying therewith the lock levers 3%, the notched. tail extension 34 of which swings upwardly into engagement with the lock har 3-5 and thus holds the said 33 locked in closed position. During this closing; action ot the said gate. the proect-ing end of the gate for the rotary agitator hears against the taco of the fixed plate 39 inwardly projected from the frame of the apparatus and the same is gradually swung inwardly to closed position and the cross pin 26 of the lock pins 24 posi tioned. for movement against the under sur face ot the inclined cams or wedges tor gradually forcing inwardly the lock pins 24; to place the inner end thereof into the sockets or recesses of the grate 22. in order to hold the locked in closedv position. By the time the grate 22 is moved to closed position. cam E29 controlling the action of the associated crank levers 2? and 28, will have moved to throw the crank 23 to reset or estore the wed 96 to normal position. so that the cross pin 26 ot the lock pins 24. will hear aeainst the under face of the said wedges or cams 26. Tn this outv'ardly swnn c position the wedges '26 will llli) wardly to engage with the said cross pins 2 to release the lock pins 2% and permit the opening of the gate 22, after which the action of the parts previously described take place.

Sulfur fumes for the sulfuring of the almonds contained in the revolving agitator is admitted within or supplied to the sulfuring chamber 8 by means of the supply pipe l-l, 2 of the drawings, the fumes so supplied entering through the spaces of the rotary agitator and coming into direct contact with the batch of almonds under treat ment and duri g the agitation thereof for the bleaching of the same.

The described working parts are entirely automatic in their operation and are actuated in timed relation, and the agitator is of such size as to hold and treat at one time approximately one and one-half tons of almonds, which almonds are throughout the process of bleaching maintained in a perfect state of agitation. About seventeen min utes are required to process one batch of almonds, so the machine is capable of processing approximately five tons per hour. After the closing of the gate for the agitator and prior to the closing of the gate for the main supply hopper 2, there is usually an escape of almonds from the latter, commonly known as dribbling. These almonds fall onto the surface of the rotating agitator and must be returned to the feed supply mechanism. For this purpose, it is arranged that the receiving hopper 3 be divided by a vertical diaphragm 42 into two compartments A-B, Fig. 7 of the drawings, of which compartment B receives the treated or bleached almonds and A the untreated or dribble almonds to be returned to the feed means; There is a deflector gate 43 arranged to direct the flow of almonds relative to the compartments A and B, which gate during the rotation of the agitator with almonds therein under treatment is thrown to close the entranceway to the compartment B and open the passage-way to the compartment A. This gate is thrown into the position dis closed by Fig. 7 of the drawings, when the gate 22 is opened to permit the discharge of treated almonds by means of the trip lever 44, actuated by the movement of the bellcrank 28, Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings. From the lever 414i is extended a cord, cable or chain 44, which is attached at its lower end to a transversely movable cord 44 which is drawn outwardly by the action of the lever 44. to throw the gate 43 to open the passage-way leading to compartment B by means of the suspended weight 45, when the gate 22 of the agitator is swung to open position, and is drawn outwardly to close said passageway and open the passage-way leading to compartment A when the gate of the rotary agitator is clo ed, so to permit of the dribbling'almonds to flow into said compartment B.

On the opening of the swinging gate 33 controlling the discharge of almonds from the receiving hopper 2 into the rotary agitator i of the apparatus, it is desirable that the flow of almondsinto said hopper be cut off. For this purpose the cut-off gate 50 is provided, l, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, said gate extending the full length of an inclined runway 21, and being supported or carried by the swinging arms5l pivotally mounted relative to the frame of the apparatus, and the same are thrown in order to lower the gate 50 to lie in front of the runway 21*.

When the gate 33 of the hopper 2 is opened to permit the flow or discharge of almonds therefrom, the feed of almonds into said hopper should be discontinued. For this purpose there leads from cut-oil gate 50 the upwardly extended connecting rods 52, which are united at their upper ends to the bell-cranks 52, Figs. 1, 2, 3 of the drawings. These bellcranks are connected to slide plates 53 of the feed troughs 20, which when withdrawn by the action of the bell-cranks on the downward movement of the cut-off gate 50, open the discharge outlets out in the said troughs at the rear of the outlets communicating with the distributing chutes 21, with. the result that the almonds moving through the troughs fall through said cutouts onto the downwardly extended chute 54 directed thereby into the bin and work downwardly over the surface of the rotary agitator until discharged into the compartment A. for the unbleached and dribbled almonds. Of course, as the cut off gate 33 is opened to permit the flow of almonds into the agitator 4, reverse movement is imparted to the bell cranks 53 and the slides are thrown to close the discharge outlets, so that the almonds are moved through the troughs 20 until the outlets for the distributing chutes 21 are reached.

The non-treated or unbleached. almonds delivered into compartment A of the hopper 3, are discharged therefrom through the restricted outlet (4 by means of the rotating discharge roll 55, Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The almonds escaping through the restricted outlet (0 fall onto an endless traveling belt conveyor 56 and by means thereof discharged at one end of the apparatus into an upwardly inclined chute 57 and by means of an endless elevator 58 working therein conveyed upwardly and discharged into the chute 18 to be elevated therein by the endless conveyor 19 with'the almonds to be de livered into the feed chutes 20, Fig. 3 of the drawings. The treated or bleached almonds are fed from the compartment B of the hopper 3 through the restricted passage-way b by means of th feed, r01] and fall onto the endless traveling belt conveyer 60 and discharged thereby into a delivery chute 61, being elevated therein to a suitable place 01 deposit by means of an endless elevator 62 working therein.

Motion is imparted to the shaft of the feed roll for delivering the unbleached almondsthrough the restricted passage-way a of the hopper 3, by means of a belt 63 working over a pulley on said shaft and a belt pulley on the drive shaft 13, Fig. 3 of the drawings, while rotation is tansmitted to the feed roll 59 by means 01 the belt 64 working over a belt pulley mounted on the shaft ot' said roll and an idler pulley 65 driven from the belt 63.

The endless belt conveyors 56 and 60 work over belt rollers arranged at each end of the machine and are driven by any suitable means. for instance, through the medium of the driven belts 6667, Fig. l of the drawings.

Each compartment A and B of the hopper 3 is provided with a swinging gate section 68, by means of which the passage-ways (1. and 7) may be controlled, said gates being adjustable from the outside of the apparatus by hand actuated adjusting rods 69. Fig. 7 of the drawings.

As stated, the working parts oi the apparatus operate in timed relation; all almonds flowing through the machine and not falling into the rotary agitator being returned as almonds to be treated to the feed troughs; the almonds while under treatment are maintained in a condition of agitation and in direct contact with the flowing fumes of sulfur; the operation of the apparatus is antomatic and capable of handling and successfully bleaching a large quantity oi? almonds per day; there is no waste of the monds delivered for treatment, and in general the apparatus provides efficient means for the treatment of the almonds and at a materially reduced cost over the means "for bleaching almonds employed previous to the present invention.

The cut-off gate 50 is normally held in raised position by the member 68 carried by the swinging arms 33' for the gate 33. As the gate is swung to open position, the edge of the member 68 moves away from the arms 51, when the gate 50 lowers by gravity. On the return movement of the swinging gate 33, the pressure of the member 68 againstthe pivoted arms 51 tends to raise the same to lift the cut-off gate 50, and to aid therein and relieve the swinging gate 33 of undue strain; weight attached to a chain or cord 69 is provided, the weight of which does not quite counterbalance that of the cut-oil gate 50.

An apparatus has been illustrated and described as the preferred embodiment for the carrying out of the invention, but I do not wish to be understood as restricting or limiting the invention to the described details or construction, but, on the contrary wish to be understood as claiming the same as broadly as the state of th art will warrant.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Let ters Patent is 2 l. The combination with an apparatus provided with a sulfuring chamber, of open cylindrical agitator rotatably mounted therein, means for imparting continuous retary movement to said agitator, and means for controlling the feed of almonds within and the discharge therefrom from within the agitator during the rotary movement thereof.

2. The combination with a sulfuring chamber or": an almond bleaching apparatus, of an agitator mounted therein for rotation, mechanism for driving said agitator, and means for controlling the feed oi? almonds within and the discharge thereof from with in the agitator.

3. The combination with the sulturing chamber of an almond blanching appa atus. of a rotary agitator mounted therein, feed means for supplying almonds for treatment to said agitator, and mechanism for return ing the dribble or untreated almonds to said feed means.

-l. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising an open cylindrical agitator mounted for rotation within a sulfuring chamber, and means for delivering almonds within said agitator during the rotary movement thereof.

in apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising an open cylindrical agitator mounted for rotation within a suliiuring chamber, mechanism for continuously feeding almonds to be processed, and means for controlling the cod of said almonds into and from said agitator.

6. An apparatus for the described pun pose, the same comprising an open agitator mounted for rotation within a sulfuring chamber and adapted to receive and maintain almonds under agitation during the processing thereof, and means for supplying almonds to said cylinder and controlling the discharge therefrom.

T. In an apparatus for the described purpose provided with a sulfuring chamber, of agitating means situated within said chamber for receiving almonds and maintaining the same under agitation while subjected to the action of sulfur fumes within the suliuring chamber, and means for controlling the feed of almonds for processing to said agitator.

8. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination with an agitator for receiving and maintaining under agitation almonds to be processed while subjected to ltlS the action of sulfur fumes, of means for deliveriug almonds for treatment to said agitator.

9. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination with an agitator for receiving and maintaining almonds under agitation while subjected to the action of the fumes oi sulfur, means for imparting motion to said agitator, and mechanism for controlling the feed oi": almonds to the agitator.

10. In an apparatus provided with a suliuring chamber, oi a rotary agitator mounted within said chamber, means for imparting rotation to the agitator, a swinging gate therefor, devices controlling the locking and release of said gate at pro-determined times during the rotary movement Oil the agitator, and mechanism controlling the delivery oi almonds to be processed to said agitator.

11. In an apparatus provided with a suliuring chamber, of a rotary agitator mounted within said chamber, means for imparting rotation to the agitator, a swinging gate therefor, net-ices controlling the locking anl release of said gate pie-determined times during the rotary movement of the agitator, mechanism controlling the delivery of almonds to be processed to said agitator, and means for receiving and returning the dribbled or unprocessed almonds passing through the apparatus to the feed means.

12. T e combination with an agitator mounted for rotation within a sult'uring chamber, a hopper for receiving almonds to be processed, means controlling the dis charge of almonds from said hopper into the agitator, and mechanism for imparting rotary movement to the said agitator.

13. The combination with an open cylindrical agitator mounted for rotation within a sulfuring chamber, of means carried by the agitator for retaining almonds therein and controlling the discharge therefrom, and means for feeding almonds to be processed within the agitator.

14. In an apparatus for the described purpose, the combination with a cylindrical agi tator mounted for rotation within a processing chamber, of a feed hopper for almonds provided with a controllable outlet gate, and means acted on by the rotary agitator for actuating said gate to open and close said hopper for controlling the feed of almonds to the agitator.

15. In an apparatus for the described purpose, tne combination with'a cylindrical agitator mounted for rotation within a processing chamber, of a feed hopper for almonds provided with a controllable outlet gate, means acted on by the rotary agitator for actuating said gate to open and close said hopper for controlling the feed of almonds to the agitator, and mechanism for receiv ing and returning the dribble or unprocessed almonds to'said :t'eed hopper.

16. In an apparatus for the described purpose provided with a processing chamber, of a main hopper for almonds and a receiving hoppe for treated almonds separated therefrom, an open rotary agitator for receiving almonds to be processed interposed between said hoppers and disposed within the proc essing chamber, a controllable gate for the main hopper, means thrown into action at times during the rotary movement of the agitator for controlling the opening and closing of the gate for the main hopper, devices for separating the delivery of the treated and the untreated almonds relative to the receiving hopper, and means for removing the, untreated almonds from said hopper for returning the sameto the main hopper.

17. An apparatus for bleaching almonds, the same comprising a housing adapted to be tilled with bleaching fumes, an open almond holding cylinder rotatably mounted within said housing and arranged to receive and discharge almonds, and means for the feeding to said cylinder almonds to be treated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. p

GEORGE W. PIERCE. 

